Four-way agreement to deliver further customer service enhancements

BEIJING, 10 June 2012 – SkyTeam, the global airline alliance and members China Southern and China Eastern today signed a Cooperation Agreement with Beijing Capital International Airport that paves the way for more customer-focused initiatives to be introduced at the airport.

Beijing Capital, which is forecasted to soon become the world’s busiest airport, is home to both China Southern and China Eastern and is served by 10 of SkyTeam’s 16 members. Each day, more than 38.000 passengers arrive and depart Beijing on 230 flights operated by SkyTeam airlines to 93 destinations worldwide.

Effective immediately, parties will further work together on improving processes that will enhance the SkyTeam customers’ airport experience, particularly when transiting in Beijing. Current and future initiatives planned at Beijing airport include:

SkyPriority – A series of distinctively branded priority airport services offered to Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers. At Beijing Capital Airport these services were rolled out in March and include: priority check-in areas and baggage drop, priority service at transfer desks, priority boarding and priority baggage handling.

SkyTeam is the only airline alliance to ensure a common and consistent standard for priority services and has already implemented SkyPriority at over 550 airports around the world.

SkyPort – Delivering cost synergies for member airlines and a better airport experience for customers at shared locations worldwide. SkyTeam opened a co-located check-in facility at the airport in December 2011, offering 50 check-in desks, numerous self-service kiosks and dedicated check-in counters for premium passengers. SkyTeam and China Southern plan to open a new SkyTeam-branded lounge for Elite, First and Business class passengers at Beijing international airport with China Southern.

SkyTransfer - With approximately 14 million SkyTeam passengers arriving and departing Beijing each year, this initiative will ensure seamless, straightforward transfers of passengers and their baggage from one member airline to another.

“Today’s agreement builds on our efforts in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to deliver a superior airport experience, that will underpin our position as the #1 alliance in the Greater China Region,” said Michael Wisbrun, SkyTeam’s Managing Director. “Close cooperation with the airports we serve is essential to identifying issues, delivering solutions and finding new opportunities at SkyTeam hubs worldwide. This will ultimately enhance the airport experience for our customers.”

The agreement is the third signed by the alliance and its members in China in 2012. Similar agreements were signed with Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport.